‘She sat for him 12 times’: The Nigerian artist who made a bronze sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II
Femi Adeji was jailed for six months for breaching the peace in 2018 after she sat on St George’s Day in Birmingham, England
‘We’re not going to put her in jail’: She defended her actions in ‘a peaceful way’, claiming other artists were also being harassed
Celebrating the Queen: Queen Elizabeth II was in Birmingham ahead of the ceremony marking the anniversary of her coronation and will remain at the event
Femi Adeji sparked outrage after she sat for the artist and his wife on the same day in 2018.
She was forced to stand behind the artist, who was installing a piece of artwork, in protest at the event.
The act sparked an immediate backlash, with artists accusing her of’stealing their art’.
On Saturday, she finally made a public apology, telling Good Morning Britain she had ‘done nothing wrong’.
She said: ‘In 2018 I had the opportunity to sit for a bronze sculpture.
‘I was there as an ambassador for art and I sat for him.
‘I have always been very committed to art and culture and it is my hope that people understand that.
‘I am very sorry that I upset a lot of people in the area.
‘We are not going to put her in jail but I will say I did it in a peaceful way.
‘The artist and I sat for three hours and we had a very peaceful conversation.
‘I was not aware that his wife would be there. I did it in a peaceful way.
‘When I saw what happened I was shocked. I did not expect it to happen.
‘My point is that people have the right to protest but those who do it in a peaceful way don’t deserve to get attacked.
The incident caused outrage, with artist’s accusing her of’stealing their art’.
Celebrating